A HERO police officer and the people of Greenock's east end came to the rescue of an elderly woman who had her bag snatched in the street and all her money stolen.

The 83-year-old was walking home after collecting her pension from the post office on Grosvenor Road when the thief struck.

But Greenock police Sergeant Danny Godfrey and his community officers stepped in to help save the day.

He visited the elderly lady, who was badly shaken by her ordeal, and gave her cash as well as taking her shopping.

At the same time local people in the east end organised a collection - raising hundreds of pounds to help her out.

Sergeant Godfrey said: "We just wanted to do what we could for the lady.

"It is a privilege to serve this community.

"This is what a real community looks like.

"The people in Greenock's east end do things like this all the time for one another.

"Everyone rallied together and showed truly amazing community spirit."

Back at the station the police officers on their shift handed over all the money from their tea fund to help tide the street robbery victim over.

At the post office, run by Councillor Michael McCormick, neighbours an customers donated money to the cause.

By the end of the day the people of Greenock's east end had raised £400 to help the 83-year-old.

The police then stepped into action once again, with a community officer taking the lady to Tesco to get her weekly shop the next day.

A week later officers arrived at her door to walk her back to the post office to collect her pension and to take her safely back home.

Sgt Godfrey added: "I would also like to make a special mention of Councillor McCormick who helps people out all the time.

"Our priority now is to identify and bring this offender to justice."

The elderly lady's bag was snatched on Sinclair street at Grosvenor Road at 9.55am on Tuesday December 10 and a three figure sum was stolen.

The thief is described as aged 30-40-years-old, about 5ft 10in tall and he was wearing a black woollen beanie hat and grey jacket.

Anyone with information should call police on 101.